MADISON - Green County Judge Thomas J. Vale has been named deputy chief judge of the Fifth Judicial Administrative District, according to a news release from District Court Administrator Theresa Owens.
District Five Chief Judge William E. Hanrahan, Dane County Circuit Court, announced the appointment, which was effective March 28.
"I'm happy to help out," Vale said, indicating his appointment was simply to be a helper with filing systems.
As deputy chief judge, Vale will work with Hanrahan and Owens to help handle Fifth District administrative matters. The district encompasses Dane, Green, Lafayette and Rock counties in south-central Wisconsin. Vale said work includes ensuring that everyone within the more than two dozen court branches use the same procedures.
Deputy chief judges are selected by chief judges throughout the state with approval from the Supreme Court. There are 10 judicial administrative districts with deputies in place to sit in for meetings or make decisions when the chief judge is away. Chief judges are selected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court and may serve up to three two-year terms.
The chief judge helps supervise and direct the administration of the district. In carrying out these duties, the chief judge is charged by Supreme Court rule to cooperate with the director of state courts. Vale noted that the process of filing by lawyers and throughout the courts was changed recently from paper filings to electronic forms. The new system that's "evolving all the time" requires that those in charge are "staying on top of everything," Vale said.
Vale was first elected to the Green County bench in 2009 and was re-elected in 2015. He was in private practice from 1981 to 2009. Vale serves on the Wisconsin Supreme Court Planning and Policy Advisory Committee as part of a "panel meant to act as a liaison between the public and the Wisconsin Supreme Court," he said.
District Five Chief Judge William E. Hanrahan, Dane County Circuit Court, announced the appointment, which was effective March 28.
"I'm happy to help out," Vale said, indicating his appointment was simply to be a helper with filing systems.
As deputy chief judge, Vale will work with Hanrahan and Owens to help handle Fifth District administrative matters. The district encompasses Dane, Green, Lafayette and Rock counties in south-central Wisconsin. Vale said work includes ensuring that everyone within the more than two dozen court branches use the same procedures.
Deputy chief judges are selected by chief judges throughout the state with approval from the Supreme Court. There are 10 judicial administrative districts with deputies in place to sit in for meetings or make decisions when the chief judge is away. Chief judges are selected by the Wisconsin Supreme Court and may serve up to three two-year terms.
The chief judge helps supervise and direct the administration of the district. In carrying out these duties, the chief judge is charged by Supreme Court rule to cooperate with the director of state courts. Vale noted that the process of filing by lawyers and throughout the courts was changed recently from paper filings to electronic forms. The new system that's "evolving all the time" requires that those in charge are "staying on top of everything," Vale said.
Vale was first elected to the Green County bench in 2009 and was re-elected in 2015. He was in private practice from 1981 to 2009. Vale serves on the Wisconsin Supreme Court Planning and Policy Advisory Committee as part of a "panel meant to act as a liaison between the public and the Wisconsin Supreme Court," he said.